Method for positioning an optical fiber
First Claim
1. A method for positioning an optical fiber in a holder for subsequent use in coupling a pair of similarly mounted optical fibers together, the method comprising the steps ofdefining an axis,positioning an optical fiber holder main body such that a first external surface thereof is in a predetermined relationship to the axis and a second external surface is in another predetermined relationship to a point on the axis,aligning an optical fiber essentially parallel with the axis,positioning the optical fiber along the axis so that the optical fiber is in juxtaposition to the main body over a portion of its length and an end of the optical fiber is at a position approximately at the point on the axis,passing light through the optical fiber so that light exits from the end of the optical fiber,positioning a position-sensitive photodetecting means on the axis so that the light exiting from the end of the optical fiber is incident thereon,detecting the light,generating a signal indicative of the position of the end of the optical fiber relative to the axis,moving the optical fiber normal to the axis in response to the signal until the optical fiber is coaxial with the axis, andsecuring the optical fiber to the main body to form an optical fiber holder in which the position of the optical fiber is in a known relationship to at least two external surfaces thereby allowing for precise positioning of the optical fiber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is described for positioning an optical fiber. The method takes two general forms: (1) The optical fiber is positioned carefully with respect to some predetermined external surface on a stationary holder such that the optical fiber may be later precisely located through use of that surface; and (2) Precisely orienting one or more optical fibers which have been prepositioned with respect to an article such that that article may be similarly precisely oriented. Generally, the methods involve the passing of light through the optical fiber, detecting the output therefrom through the use of a position-sensitive photodetector, and moving the optical fiber so as to achieve a desired relationship to the position-sensitive photodetector.
53 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A method for positioning an optical fiber in a holder for subsequent use in coupling a pair of similarly mounted optical fibers together, the method comprising the steps of
defining an axis, positioning an optical fiber holder main body such that a first external surface thereof is in a predetermined relationship to the axis and a second external surface is in another predetermined relationship to a point on the axis, aligning an optical fiber essentially parallel with the axis, positioning the optical fiber along the axis so that the optical fiber is in juxtaposition to the main body over a portion of its length and an end of the optical fiber is at a position approximately at the point on the axis, passing light through the optical fiber so that light exits from the end of the optical fiber, positioning a position-sensitive photodetecting means on the axis so that the light exiting from the end of the optical fiber is incident thereon, detecting the light, generating a signal indicative of the position of the end of the optical fiber relative to the axis, moving the optical fiber normal to the axis in response to the signal until the optical fiber is coaxial with the axis, and securing the optical fiber to the main body to form an optical fiber holder in which the position of the optical fiber is in a known relationship to at least two external surfaces thereby allowing for precise positioning of the optical fiber.
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5. A method for positioning an object comprising the steps of
mounting a pair of optical fibers in a predetermined parallel spaced relationship on the object, a first end of each of the optical fibers being disposed adjacent to a surface of the object, defining a pair of similarly spaced parallel axes, each axis being associated with one of the optical fibers, positioning the object such that the optical fibers are essentially parallel to the axes and such that the first ends of the optical fibers are in a predetermined relationship to a point on an axis. passing light through each of the optical fibers so that light exits from the first end of the optical fibers, positioning a position-sensitive photodetecting means on each of the axes so that the light exiting from the first ends of the optical fibers are incident respectively thereon, detecting the light at a first one of the position-sensitive photodetecting means, generating a signal indicative of the position of the first end of the associated optical fiber relative to the associated axis, translating the object in a plane normal to the axis until the associated optical fiber and axis are aligned, detecting the light at the other of the pair of position-sensitive photodetecting means, generating a signal indicative of the position of the first end of the associated optical fiber relative to the associated axis, and rotating the object about the axis associated with the first one of the pair of position-sensitive photodetecting means until the associated optical fiber and axis are aligned thereby precisely orienting the object relative to the pair of axes.
Specification